Man Exposed Himself To Shoppers In Target Parking Lot: Cops

CANTON, GA — Canton police have charged a 28-year-old man with public indecency after he allegedly exposed himself in the Target parking lot at Canton Marketplace. Officers were dispatched around noon Wednesday, Aug. 1 to a call of a man allegedly masturbating "in front of pedestrians as they entered the store," the agency said.

Cherokee County 911 dispatchers said the man was also trying to leave the area in an older model blue or green Ford Ranger pickup truck. An officer arrived at the parking lot, but was unable to locate the accused perpetrator. However, officers continued to investigate the report, and they were able to obtain information leading to the owner of the truck and verified his description.

"They were able to confirm through contact with the male that he was in the parking lot at the time of the incident, but he advised everything was just a misunderstanding," Canton police said.

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Police arrested James Blake Worley of Canton on Sunday, Aug. 5 and charged him with one count of public indecency. Cherokee Sheriff's Office spokesperson Jay Baker said Worley remains held at the Adult Detention Center.

“I commend our hard-working 0fficers for their commitment and diligence in this case," said Police Chief Mark Mitchell. "We are very grateful this person was removed off the streets in our community, before he continued this activity and/or harmed someone in the future. Efforts like this greatly strengthen the quality of life for our citizens we serve."

Worley's arrest is the second time in four years he's been apprehended for the same type of crime. Deputies with the Cherokee Sheriff's Office arrested and charged Worley on June 19, 2014, after he was caught "masturbating in his vehicle" in the parking lot of Kroger at 6766 Hickory Flat Highway.

Jail records show Worley pleaded guilty in October 2014 to one count of the misdemeanor charge of public indecency and was sentenced to serve 12 months at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center. He was also ordered to serve 40 hours of community service, undergo a mental health evaluation and required to wear a shirt, pants and footwear at all times while in public.

Photo: James Blake Worley. Credit: Cherokee County Sheriff's Office